‘Fresh as a daisy’: Recalled Sexton fit to play after sternum scare

3 weeks ago 4

Toby Sexton says the Bulldogs have one less injury to worry about, with the recalled halfback declaring he is fit to play in Sunday’s elimination semi-final against the Panthers.

Canterbury were sweating on the results of scans on Sexton’s sternum after he suffered a blow to the chest in the Bulldogs’ loss to Melbourne on Friday, but he declared on Monday he was “fresh as a daisy” and prepared to play wherever coach Cameron Ciraldo needs him.

“I pulled up pretty good, so I’ll be ready to go this weekend,” Sexton said. “Yep, I’m playing, all good. No needling [injections], I’m fresh as a daisy, so I’m good to go.

“Just a bit of a knock. I’m a halfback, and I don’t make many tackles. Just a bit of a knock, and it was a bit sore at the time, but it’s good, and I’m good to go this weekend.”

The Bulldogs have had several injuries at the back end of their campaign, including a season-ending ankle injury for captain Stephen Crichton, a suspected fractured eye socket for Viliame Kikau and a leg fracture for Enari Tuala. The club is also waiting on scan results on winger Jethro Rinakama’s ankle injury.

Toby Sexton has declared he’s fit, healthy and ready to go on Sunday.

After being dropped earlier in the season in favour of Lachlan Galvin, Sexton was brought back into Ciraldo’s team to play off the bench against Melbourne.

But Sexton was thrust into the action much earlier than expected after Crichton went down with his syndesmosis injury and playmaker Matt Burton was shifted to the centres to allow Sexton to partner Galvin in the halves.

Sexton’s impact was immediate – the Catalan Dragons-bound halfback scored 30 seconds after coming onto the field.

“It was honestly weird,” he said. “I didn’t know how many minutes I was going to get and I kind of thought after the game I was actually pretty lucky the way it worked out.

“If I sat on the bench for 60 minutes – I’ve got a bit of ADHD – and I’d just go mad walking around the sideline and just building it up in my head. Actually, it worked out well, and then scoring the try kind of just settled me down, and I eased into the game pretty easily.”

Bulldogs No. 7 Lachlan Galvin arrives at training on Monday.

It’s been a rollercoaster year for Sexton. The 24-year-old was sensationally dropped after helping the Bulldogs to the top of the table, and Canterbury haven’t quite been the same since. But Sexton said he had no animosity towards Galvin or the club.

“He’s a great kid, he works hard, and at the end of the day, he’s here to win games, and that’s all that matters,” Sexton said. “I’ve actually really liked being a part of his journey so far here and being able to help him out in any way possible. He’s got a bright future ahead.”

Sexton has “no idea” where he will be playing for the Bulldogs this weekend, but any game time is welcome after fearing he had played his last game in the NRL.

“It’s been a different kind of period,” he said. “I kind of said after the game, when everything was pretty raw, and I thought kind of four, five weeks ago I wouldn’t get an opportunity like this again.

“And it’s crazy the way everything works out, and to think that I’m going to be playing in a final against Penrith this weekend is pretty cool and something I’m definitely not taking for granted.”

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